Electrical switch



March 21, 1939. R. E. LEHMAN ET AL ELECTRICAL SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 9, 1935 March 21, 1939. R. E. LEHMAN Er AL 2,151,039

ELECTRICAL SWITCH A 'L j6 b gxc. 45;'

March 21, 1939. R E. L EHMAN ET AL 2,151,039

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed March 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 90 j /05 .9NweM/CM i hnnn "l n nnn l 8 zada/MW,

Mew-1 m4 f5 UM Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEELECTRICAL SWITCH poration of Maryland Application March 9, 1935, SerialNo. 10,300

4 Claims.

Our invention relates bro'adly to electrical circuit controllingapparatus and more particularly to a selective circuit controllingapparatus which may be operated to control a multiplicity of coactingcircuits.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide solenoid controldevices which may be compactly arranged within a relatively small areaior controlling a large number of electrical circuits.

Another object of our invention is to provide a construction of solenoidswitch having means shiftable to either of two limiting positions forclosing an electrical circuit through contact f members supporteddirectly by the means which houses the solenoid switch.

A further object of our invention is to provide a construction ofsolenoid switch in which a cylindrical housing provides mounting meansfor axially disposed electromagnetic windings, each of which are mountedon tubular supports with their axes extending coincident with the centerline of the cylindrical housing for cooperatively controlling ashiftable armature member movable to either of two limiting positionsfor operating a contact system.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a simplifiedconstruction of two-position electromagnetically operated switch inwhich a cylindrical housing carries an electromagnetic operating Windingadjacent each end thereof, each adaptedto coactively operate upon amovable armature member shiftable to either of two limiting positionsfor controlling a contact system located intermediate theelectromagnetic operating windings.

A further object of our invention is to provide a construction ofsolenoid actuated circuit controller which may be mounted in closeproximity to correspondingly constructed circuit controllers forselectively actuating a multiplicity of electrical circuits within arelatively small area.

Other and further objects of our invention reside in the electricalsolenoid switches of our invention and the construction of the solenoidswitches, as set forth more fully in the specinca-tion hereinafterfollowing by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a circuit arrangement in which the solenoid switches ofour invention are illustrated applied to an all electric combinationaction for organs; Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing one method ofmounting the electromagnetic switches of our invention; Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is alateral sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a planView of one of the electromagnetic switches constructed in accordancewith our invention and showing the contact element in neutral positionwith both sets of electrical contacts open; Fig. 6 is a Viewcorresponding to the view shown in Fig. 5 but illustrating the left handcontact system closed by movement of the armature toward the left; Fig.7 is a side elevational view of the electromagnetic switches shown inFigs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view with parts shownpartially in elevation taken through the electromagnetic switch on line8 8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is an end View of the electromagnetic switch shownin Figs. 5-7; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View taken on line lil-I0 ofFig. 8; Fig. 11 is a crosssectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 8;Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic and schematic view showing the control circuitfor the electromagnetic switch of our invention; Fig. 13 shows onearrangement of the contact system for the electromagnetic switch of ourinvention; Fig. 14 shows a modified arrangement of contact system forthe electromagnetic switch of our invention; and Fig. 15 shows a furthermodied form of `contact system whichv may be provided for theelectromagnetic switch of our invention.

For purposes of explaining our invention, we have shown the applicationof our construction of electromagnetic switch to an all electriccombination action for organs, but we desire that it be understood thatthe electromagnetic switch of our invention is applicable to variouskinds of electrical control circuits.

In Fig. 1, we have shown an all electric combination action for organsin which three stop keys have been illustrated at I, 2, and 3 arrangedadjacent the control panel 4. Each stop includes a frame structure shownat 5, 6, and l, on which there is mounted the on control magnets 8, 9and I il and the off control magnets II, I2, and I3, which coact withrespect to shiftable armature members I4, I5 and I6 to move contactsIlla, I5a and Ita to either of two limiting positions. We'have indicatedin the drawings the off position for the contacts and the on positionfor the contacts. The stop keys which we employ are set forth moreparticularly in Letters Patents No. 1,538,949, datedMay 26, 1925, andNo. 1,538,950, dated May 26, 1925, on the inventions of Osborne I.Price, although we desire that it be understood that other forms of stopkeys may be employed.

We employ in the circuit control system, electromagnetic switches I1,I8, I9, 20, 2I, and 22 of the kind set forthin Letters Patent No.1,954,758, granted April l0, 1934, on the invention of William H.Reisner. We provide electromagnetic control switches 23, 24, 25, 26, 21,and 28 connected with the electromagnetic switches, as shown. A sourceof direct current is connected to terminals indicated at 29. In theorgan control system, switch I1 :functions as setter No. 1, and SwitchI8 functions as setter No. 2. Switch I9 functions as a setter to controlswitches I1 and I8. Switch 20 functions to control combination No. l,and switch 2| functions to control combination No. 2. Switch 22functions as a setter for controlling switch 28 which, in turn, controlscombination No. l, and also for controlling switch 2|, which in turn,controls combination No. 2. We provide a setter control switch 36, and aswitch 3| for selecting combination No. 1 and a switch 32 for selectingcombination No. 2.

Electromagnetic control switches 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, and 28 includeindependent operating windings which will be more fully hereinafterdescribed and which function to shift an armature member to either oftwo positions. The armature members for the respective switches eachcarry a contact pin represented in Fig. l at 33, 34, 35, 36, 31, and 38which, when shifted either to the right or left, establish connectionthrough contact systems 43, 44, 45, 46, 41 and 48, or 53, 54, 55, 56,51, and 58 respectively.

The construction of the electromagnetic switch of our invention will bemore fully understood by reference to Figs. 2-15 in which the mountingfor a multiplicity of electromagnetic switches has been illustrated onpanel 59. I have designated the electromagnetic switches 23, 24, 25, 26,21 and i 28, as supported in spaced parallel relation on panel 59 bymeans of strip members 60 and 6I which conform to the shape of thecasings which enclose the electromagnetic switches and are fastened tothe panel 59 by suitable screws or other means 62, as shown.

Each electromagnetic switch is enclosed by a cylindrical housing formedfrom insulating material which we have designated by reference character63. The housing 63 is provided with a relatively large central opening64 intermediate the length thereof on one side of the housing and asmaller opening or slot 65 adjacent the opposite side of the housing.The cylindrical housing 63 receives two electromagetic systems 66 and61. The electromagnetic system 66 is constituted by a winding wound onan insulated spool-like member 68 having an end ange 69 conforming tothe internal diameter of the cylindrical housing 63 and an end flange 10having laterally projecting lugs 1I and 12 thereon for providingterminal supports for the ends of the wires which extend from thewinding 66. Each lug 1I and 12 is provided with binding members 1Ia and12a which secure the ends of the winding 66 to the insulated lugs 1I and12. The end flange 1U otherwise conforms to the internal diameter of thehousing 63, provision being made for the entry of the projecting lugs 1Iand 'I2 into a recess 13 cut in the end of the housing 63. In this way,the entire electromagnetic operating unit is maintained ilush with theend of the housing. The end anges 69 and 10 are carried on the centraltubular member 14 through which the rod-like armature member 15 extendsin a manner free to shift longitudinally within the tubular member 14.

In a similar manner, we arrange the electromagneticoperating system 61on a tubular member 16 having ilanges 11 and 18 conforming to theinternal diameter of the casing 63 and through which the rod-likearmature 15 is free to shift. The end flange 18 carries projecting lugs19 and which enter a recess 8I in the right hand end of housing 63 andserve, by means of binding members 19a and 80a, to support the ends ofthe wire extending from the winding 61. Very often, these connectingends are subject to strain and the arrangement which we provide preventsany undue strain while enabling the unit to have the connecting leads tobe quickly soldered thereto.

The rod-like armature member 15 which is free to shift within tubularmembers 14 and 16 is limited in its movement by the abutment of contactpin 33 with the end flanges 69 and 11 or with the limits of the slot 65.As the pin 33 shifts from one limiting position to another, the pinenters between the sets of contact wire elements 43 and 53.

We have shown the contact wire elements 43 and 53 on an enlarged scalein Fig. 13 from which it will be seen that there are three independentwire members 82, 83 and 84, Each wire member is provided with a loopedportion which may be secured by means of a rivet or other suitablefastening member to the housing 63. Rivet 85 extends through the loop inwire member 82 and secures the wire member in position, as shown. Rivet86 extends through the loop in the wire member 83 and through thehousing 63 for 82 are shunted. With contact pin 33 shifted to ,A

the right, the shunt is removed from between wire members 82 and 83 andwire members 82 and 84 are shunted, thereby establishing an electricalcircuit which may be connected to rivets 81 and 85.

A variety of contact systems may be employed such as illustrated inFigs. 14 and l5. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 14, wire element 88having a rivet loop 89 therein, coacts with a correspondingly shapedwire element 90 having a rivet loop 90a therein. There is acorresponding contact system constituted by wire element 9| having aloop 92 therein which coacts with wire element 93 having a loop 94therein. The wire elements 88 and 98 have portions extending parallel toeach other forming resilient jaws adapted to receive contact pin 33. Thewire elements 9| and 93 have resilient portions extending in parallelrelation also adapted to be shunteu by means of contact pin 33 whenshifted to the right.

We may find it desirable to employ the contact system illustrated inFig. l5 in which a resilient wire element 95 is secured to casing 63 bymeans of a rivet passing through loop 96. two coacting wire elements 91and 98 having resilient portions extending parallel to the resilientwire element 95. A rivet loop 99 is provided for wire element 91 and arivet loop IDU is provided for wire element 98 by which the Wireelements There are 'i Cil may be secured to the housing 63. Contact pin33 is free to bridge the parallel gaps between wire elements 95 and 91or between wire elements 95 and 98.

In Fig. 12, we have shown diagrammatically the manner in which solenoidwindings 66 and 61 are selectively excited from the potential source |0|by shifting selecting switch |02 to either of the two contacts by whichwindings 66 and 61 are independently and selectively energized. Uponshifting switch |02 to Contact |03, winding 66 is energized which movesarmature 15 to the left. Upon shifting switch |02 to contact |04,Winding 61 is energized which shifts armature 'l5 to the right. Thecontact pin 33 carried by armature 15 serves to control the shunting orunshunting of the contact systems for correspondlngly controlling avariety of electrical circuits.

We have found the construction of electromagnetically operated switch ofour invention highly practical and successful in operation and, while`we have described our invention in certain of its preferred embodiments,we desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and weintend no limitations upon our invention other than are imposed by thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is as follows:

1. A contact system comprising a single resilient wire-like contactmember xed at substantially the middle thereof and having oppositeportions thereof extending in a substantially straight line, a pair ofresilient wire-like contact members disposed in longitudinal alignmentand each mounted adjacent one end thereof and having a portion thereofextending parallel to and spaced from one of the opposite portions ofsaid single contact member, and a contact pin movable to either of twolimiting positions in a plane normal to the plane of said contactmembers for alternately bridging a selected one of said pair ofwire-like contact members and said single wirellke member.

2. A contact system comprising a pair of resilient wire-like contactmembers of substantially U shape disposed in longitudinal alignment inspaced relation with the ends thereof adjacent, means for supporting onepair of the adjacent ends of said contact members, and a contact pinselectively shiftable to either of two limiting positions substantiallyin the plane of the free arms of said resilient contact members which isnormal to the plane of said members.

3. A contact system comprising a pair of resilient wire-like contactmembers of substantially U shape disposed in iongitudinal alignment inspaced relation with the ends thereof adjacent, means for supporting onepair of the adjacent ends of said contact members, a second pair ofcontact members of like form and similarly supported and disposed, withthe free arms thereof spaced from but parallel to the free arms of therst pair of resilient contact members and in the same plane, and acontact pin selectively shiftable to either of two limiting positionsbetween the free arms of said contact members in a plane normal to theplane of said U-shaped members.

4. A contact system comprising a pair of resilient wire-like contactmembers of substantially U shape disposed in longitudinal alignment inspaced relation with the ends thereof adjacent,

means for supporting one pair of the adjacent ROSCOE E. LEHMAN. ARDEN E.ROANE.

